Mac Bootcamp or low cost windows laptop for Durametic?

[ALEV8]

Went berserk today trying to figure out what to do and how not to spend a bunch of money I don't need to spend on a dedicated laptop. Just curious what some of you guys recommend or have direct experience with regarding this. I'm a Mac guy so that route seems to make sense and the number same way cheaper. Need some help here.

[plima]

I'm a Mac only guy, too, and have been using Durametric s/w on my MacBook Pro with Parallels and Windoze XP.  Works perfectly.  I'm sure Bootcamp will also work, but Parallels is much simpler.

Edited November 11, 2014 by plima

[ALEV8]

It is? I have a copy but it's like Parallels 5. No copy of Windos tho....God Parallelels was a nightmare back wen I was using it a while back. Is it true using Bootcamp opens the partition and thus the machine to viruses?

[ALEV8]

Uh 80 bucks and a copy of windows....gonna find a used laptop I guess.

[scubatahiti]

I use Parallels and run XP & Windows 7 on my mac book pro. boot camp sucks as you have to reboot your pc to use it. Parallels is a lot better in my opinion. One item though you need to make sure you have at least 8 gig of RAM as you will need to allocate 4 gig to parallels and the virtual machines and 4 gig to OSX. The other items that should be addressed is using dual drives in you MB pro. you can purchase and install a solid state drive to run OSX on by replacing the super drive in your mac (who even uses a driver anymore. if you do make it external) 

 

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/SSD/OWC/

 

These guys have great videos on how to do the install.

 

this allows you to run all your apps on a SSD and put your files on the SATA drive. If you already have a SSD drive, purchase a SATA drive to house your files..

 

You will need to purchase Parallels 10 

You can run a lower version if you have not upgraded to Yosemite

 

In summary you will need

 

Hardware

SSD drive to replace the super drive

upgrade the memory to at least 8 gig. if you are already there great!!

Housing to make our super drive external.

 

Software

Parallels 10 or parallels 9 if still on mavericks

Windows operating system disk. I believe you will need windows 7 for Durametric

 

 

if you dont want to go the SSD route just get the memory upgrade and the software.

 

 

I am able to Run VAC COM (W XP) and durametric (W7) on my MB Pro :) with no boot camp BS...

 

Let me know if you have questions. 

 

...Dan

[ALEV8]

I'm just going to buy a Toshiba for 249$ and call it a day, and NOT screw with my Air. Just a bit more dinero than Parallels and Win retail. I'll just leave that laptop out in the shop anyway.

[scubatahiti]

make sure your durametric software will run on windows 8

[Loren]

From the Durametric website:

 

Version 6 system requirements differ from version 5...

Windows XP, Vista, Win7, and Win8 (32- or 64-bit versions)

1.8 GHz Pentium-class, dual-core processor or faster (ARM processor such as on Windows Surface using WinRT not supported)

1 GB Memory (RAM)

1 GB available disk space

Available USB port

Internet connection (for installation and updates)

Screen resolution of 800x600 or greater

Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.5 sp1 (free download). Not required on Windows 7. - .NET Framework version 4.x not supported.

Adobe® Acrobat Reader (for viewing and printing documentation)

Durametric 2nd-generation cable

[deilenberger]

At a local flea-market near me used laptops show up all the time for $50-100. Most have batteries that won't hold a charge for long, but that isn't a problem since you have 12V in the P!G (and adaptors are available) or 115V in your garage. Make it a dedicated garage computer. I have several kicking around that I only use for diagnostics tools.

 

A used Netbook running XP will also work fine with a Durametic. I wouldn't be concerned about processor speed/cores - a single core processor will work just fine, the program may run a tad slower, but do you really care? It's not like you're going to be using it 8 hours a day 5 days a week.

 

For the $100 for a used laptop/netbook is it really worth porking-up (tech-term) your everyday computer?

[ALEV8]

Exactly what I was thinking and Toshiba has one for $249 with a Pentium chip, plenty o RAM, 500 GB hdd....so why not just spend $100 more. Everybody seems to ebay theirs off these days and second hand PC laptops can really suck. Even if it's a limited use machine I'd like it to run Durametric smoothly. Must be a Pentium chip though right? No AMD chips, correct?

Borrowed the neighbors HP Win 8 Pavilion AMD powered laptop which is pretty new 1.8 gig chip see results below:

Edited November 12, 2014 by ALEV8

[ALEV8]

Vehicle electrical system

Current fault codes

907 load management operat. on vehicle electrical system./DME control module-no additional fault status available, test conditions are not-completed, fault is currently active and is not causing a DTC light

1520 rain sensor/light sensor-implausible signal, test conditions are not-completed, fault is not currently active and is not causing a DTC light

2197 potentiometer 4 foot well lights-implausible signal, test conditions are not-completed, fault is not currently active and is not causing a DTC light

Seat memory driver

Current fault codes

1897 steering column adjustment sensor horizontal short circuit to B+

2327 Seat angle adjustment sensor short circuit to B+

2332 backrest angle adjustment sensor short-circuit to B +

Seat Memory passenger

Current fault codes

2327 seat angle adjustment sensor short circuit to B+

Not sure what to do with these but I was able to clear everything except for the electrical system fault 907. Ideas anyone?

Edited November 12, 2014 by ALEV8

[ALEV8]

I will run the scan test again with the car running (was not while testing) as that 907 is a voltage issue and I have a brand-new battery.

Edited November 12, 2014 by ALEV8

[Loren]

I run the scan test again with the car running as that 907 is a voltage issue and I have a brand-new battery.

 

I am pretty sure fault 907 is based on the voltage measured at the generator/alternator.

If you measure that voltage (carefully) with the engine running it should be in the 11.4 to 14.4 volt range. If not, then you may have a bad alternator or regulator.

Check for damaged wires while you are there too...

[ALEV8]

Loren will do that ASAP. Despite replacing everything needed and wanted from reading this forum, for a 126k mi 04 Turbo, starting has become balky again. I was under the impression you had to run the durametric with the car in accessory position on the ignition.

[hahnmgh63]

I run Durametric with the ignition in the "ON" position and engine "OFF" unless I'm trying to log some data that I need the engine running for. I do run Durametric on Win8.1 with no problems.  I would copy those codes then clear them and just like PIWIS, I don't run Durametric without a Battery charger on the vehicle even though I have a fairly new battery you can see power load errors rather quickly. The Pig is hungry for Electrical power too, not just Fuel :)

[Orient Express]

I use Durametric  on my macbook Retina with Bootcamp and Windows 7.  I only use the windows stuff for the vehicle diagnostic SW I have (Ross-Tech, Bentley,  and Durametric), so booting into that partition is not that big a deal.

[ALEV8]

OK so today I have to learn how to clear the SERVICE NOW message.....and with a battery charger on it or running.

[ALEV8]

I went out and purchased a new Dell to run this program. Of course it doesn't work. Won't even launch it.

Durametric can't be reached at all....I've been on hold an hour. I'll add what a POC this laptop is. I think I'll just return it and run Bootcamp...jesus....this literallybrand Nu out of the box laptop has slowed down from the time I turned it on an hour ago.

Just like the old days before Apple took over the world.

Edited November 12, 2014 by ALEV8

[ALEV8]

So I pitched the brand-new laptop and took the old 2009 Dell Inspiron 1545 and fired it up, lo and behold it worked fine. Looks like my voltage was at 13.58 Loren, with the car running. I didn't have an off hard drive space to run Boot Camp on my MacBook air.

Edited November 13, 2014 by ALEV8

[Loren]

No fluctuation in the voltage (one bad diode in the regulator will do that)?

If there is no fluctuation then I would clear all the codes - turn everything off - then re-test all modules.

Report the codes again here.

[stutzchris]

I am a Mac guy from way back.  I can not bring myself to put a quasi windows platform on my MacBook.  I went out and purchase a cheap refurd'd PC laptop to keep in the garage to run Durametric.  I also went to a local computer supply store and bought a 30 for USB booster cable for around $20 to extend the Durametric dongle so the laptop can sit on the work bench. 

Edited November 13, 2014 by stutzchris

[ALEV8]

Will do and the voltage fluctuated just slightly with a peak of 13.85…

[JFP in PA]

Will do and the voltage fluctuated just slightly with a peak of 13.85…

 

That is low, you should be more like 14.4V.

[ALEV8]

I was reading incorrect value.

Voltage is indeed 14.4V.....

 

I will add my 02 sensors and cats failed efficiency tests and the 02 heater passed.......whatever that means. Should I be concerned?

Edited November 13, 2014 by ALEV8

[JFP in PA]

I was reading incorrect value.

Voltage is indeed 14.4V.....

 

I will add my 02 sensors and cats failed efficiency tests and the 02 heater passed.......whatever that means. Should I be concerned?

 

Only if you need to pass emissions inspection.......................